I'll definitely second master Don's words. My wife has actually gotten into cars since we met (we bought our 65 Coronet 'vert because she wanted a drop top) and is always looking around on the internet for cars for sale...but she REALLY likes bright, sparkley, shiny stuff...really sparkley. I honestly can't really justify paying thousands for clear rock or shiny bracelet (as I've paid less for complete vehicles), but it's what she likes, so I do give in when she finds something she really likes...in the interest of domestic tranquility. And she puts up w/ my garage full of "crap" as she calls it. It's all give and take and I've come to realize that I can't spend every waking moment in the garage (although I'd like to!) playing w/ the cars...the honey-do list has to take a high priority position sometimes too. Bill M 65 Coronet 500 'vert > -----Original Message----- > From: Don Dulmage [mailto:big-d@xxxxxxxxxxxx] > Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 8:38 AM > To: 1962to1965mopars@xxxxxxxxxx > Subject: happy wife syndrome > > > > I ran onto one of the reasons why we get in trouble occasionally. Beside > being a car nut i also like music and hack around on a guitar and violins . > I make my own fiddles for fun. When giving a demo at a seniors or retiries > group i ran into a lady who picked up one of my homemade fiddles ad i could > tell a soon as she handled it she was a player and not a novice either. I > asked if she had a violin to play. she said no. I knew her before this and > her husband is into cars. he has a real nice t-bird and a 1917 Model t > touring. . She told him se wanted to get a violin later that day and he said > , what the heck would you want that for? Then she found one atthe > distressed frieght comapny for $49 but he refused to let her have. Now if > she hates his cars i didnt feel a bit sorry for him. He has disrespected her > interests and talents and deserves whatever he gets. Wives are totally > unimpressed by how much stuff is worth BTW so making a list and writing down > the figures is only going to give you a headache. They dont particularily > enjoy car shows and drags and cruise nights either but come along because > they want to do something together with you. so when they want to go > shoppping and you refuse to go, dont expect a warm feeling from her when you > want her to come to a car thing with you. They married you so they could > send time with you. Money , chrome valve cover , first hemi ever built or > one of 1 means to them absolutely nothing, in fact it annoys them when you > try and con them into the fact that you do this because it is a good > investment and profitable. They dont really care . Some will go along , some > will occasionally but dont try to make your hobby and interests theirs. > instead make sure they get to do and see and go where they want to as well. > If you dont and your woman gets exasperated by your car stuff. it is hard in > anyway to feel sorry for you. I know there are some women who are into cars. > Cindy on this list is one i know myself and always has something interesting > to drive but most of our woman are not really if truth be known that > interested. . When we tell them how rare something is or how valuable it is > or how bad we want it they are tempted to quote that line from the gone > with the Wind movie (Frankly Scarlet i dont give a da...m) To think > otherwise is foolishness. Have all the car stuff you want but dont restict > your womans interests either. . Now Dennis from our list has a real god one > one women and men. I think he would send it to whoever wants it. i sure > liked it. > > The Weather is better hear now and the insurance thing came for the 63. got > to get a new appraisal. i hate that but have no choice. Ducked it last year > so I wont escape this year. > Don > My wife said I should tell you all how we repaired it in our marriage many > years ago, 30+ > I had a 426 Hemi at the time. and was centred on making it good to the > exclusions of all other things so it seemed to her > One day in a bit of anger she said to me "how is it that if the hemi needs > somehing you have to get it but if i need something it never comes. Stunned > I said why? what would you want? "Well some descent cupboards for starters" > she replied. We were in our second house at the time and it was not fancy to > say the least. " You want cupboards? I said. "git in the car". The home show > was on and so i drove right there and went to the cupboard display. .? What > wood do you like? I said. She showed me a dark oak set. , What hardware? I > asked She picked stuff so nice i swallwed hard. By now the salesman was > there , How big is your kitchen. She already knew and told him exactly. He > drew a plan and aked a few questions. "How much ?" I asked. He told me (i > think then it was 1965.00 dollars (1971, you could add a zero now i think))" > When can you put them in?" i asked. "They will be installed in the next 45 > day"s "he said. "Ok" I said and signed on te line. On the way home she > asked me, " how will we pay for them?" "We'll manage" i said because i had > no intention of spending the rest of our days in trouble. And we did manage > too. In fact it was no problem. and the friction disappeared. I said > DISAPPEARED fellows. I thought about it long and hard and finally realized I > am not the only one on this planet or in this house . Her intersts are not > mine and mine are not hers but if her interests are satisified she will not > give me any flack about mine and so some 37 years later that is how it is. I > make sure she gets to do and see what she wants and will go with her when > practical. or when she asks and she makes sure my interests are fed as well. > This works. If you should kid yourself thinking that she is really > interested in this car thing too, she just needs encouregment you are lying > to the guy you see every morning in the mirror when you shave. > Thus endeth the sermon for the day i will go back in the garage now and try > and behave. (right after i fix the dimmer switch knobs for her inthe living > room. ) > Don > Author of > Return to Deutschland (True Adventure) > Old Reliable (Mopar) > http://altonapublicschool.faithweb.com/ > > http://seniordragster.bravehost.com/index.html